The IU Internship in Politics, Opportunity, Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship (IU POLS DC) is a semester-long mentored internship program in Washington, D.C., situated at the IU Capital Campus in Dupont Circle. The program provides students from all academic backgrounds the skills, guidance and experiences needed to pursue meaningful careers. Whether your focus is in Political Science or another social science, in the humanities, hard sciences, business, or the arts, IU POLS DC prepares you to find, apply for, and secure the kind of job that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning.

Eligibility: All undergraduate students from freshmen to senior standing at IU Bloomington are encouraged to apply, although you must have at least sophomore standing by the time you plan to be in D.C. All IU-Bloomington students are welcome to apply, regardless of major or school. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required, though exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

What is a “mentored internship?”

In a mentored internship, we provide you with guidance and coaching every step of the way—from the moment you decide that you want to spend a semester in D.C. until you move back home. Prior to going to D.C., you will take a career readiness/professional development course (POLS X-299) that prepares you for the semester ahead with resume workshops, networking and LinkedIn tips, emotional intelligence coaching, job hunting skills, writing for Washington, and professional ethics—everything you need to enjoy a successful semester in D.C. and smoothly transition from student to professional.

While you are in D.C., you will earn internship credit by taking 6 hours of POLS X-477 with the program director, Prof. Christine Barbour, as your faculty supervisor. Every week you will communicate with her about how the internship is progressing and she is available for consultation, problem-solving, and support as needed. We connect you with Political Science alums who will welcome you to their networks and POLS alums who are happy to serve as alumni mentors. For those who find their professional feet quickly, the mentoring aspect can fade to the background as you wish, but for those who want a hand or a mentor on call, we are there.

You’ll have a transformative semester as you navigate the pathway from college student to young professional—maintaining your fulltime student status and financial aid while building your future and making lifelong friends and career connections. And you will do it all with the support, encouragement, and safety net provided by the POLS team, your IU instructors, the IU Capital Campus staff, and your peers in the program. 

• Apply to the program a full year before you hope to go to Washington, D.C. (see application deadlines below). If you or your family have questions in advance, contact Prof. Christine Barbour (barbour@iu.edu) at any time. (And no, there are no stupid questions! Ask away!) 
• Enroll in POLS-X 299—our professional development class—the semester before you go.
• Live, work and attend school in Washington, D.C., enrolled in 12 credit hours (6 credits for the internship; 6 credits for two 300-level IU Political Science courses taught in D.C., by IU faculty at our Capital Campus classrooms.)
• Choose to live at the IU Capital Campus Crimson Row dorms in Dupont Circle or in a shared townhome in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Single and double occupancy rooms are available in both.
• Spend about the same amount of money that you would for a semester in Bloomington. You pay your regular IU tuition and fees plus the cost of food and housing. Washington, D.C., is an expensive city but many of your expenses will be under your control and will depend on the choices you make. Housing details will be provided the semester before you go to D.C. so that you can choose the option that’s best for you. Workshops on budgeting are available in X299 for those in need of advice and practice. 
• Enjoy, learn, and return. Have a great time, learn new skills, and return with the proficiency and contacts you need to find a fabulous job. 

IU offers multiple D.C. programs out of our Capital Campus. The POLS DC Program is just one. You should choose the program that best fits your needs. This is what is different about us: 

• We have created a prep class to get you ready and help you develop the specific skills necessary to land a great job in D.C. We support you throughout the application process—from resume workshops to practice interviews. Our goal is for you to have the gut-level confidence that you will find a job when you graduate—because you will already have had the experience of landing one. 
• We are mentored. No one here expects you to do this on your own until you are ready.
• POLS earns you College of Arts and Sciences credit that counts toward your major (if you are in Political Science) or that can earn you most of a minor—often requiring as few as two additional classes—if you are not.
• We introduce you to Political Science alums living in D.C. with a networking reception every semester and many opportunities to meet and learn from those who were once in your shoes. 
• The IU program director, Prof. Christine Barbour, will be in D.C. each week of the semester to teach one of your classes and you will also have another IU professor who resides in D.C. You can always call Prof. Barbour in Bloomington in case of a serious emergency. In addition, both our housing providers have staff on call 24 hours a day, seven days per week.